Internationally acclaimed as one of the foremost cellists of his generation, James Kreger first gained worldwide attention in 1974 at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, where he was the top American prizewinner and judges and audiences hailed his playing as “amazingly poetical and technically superb.”

“It’s difficult to imagine anyone playing the cello better than this.” The New York Times

“Bravura passages sizzle off his bow with assurance and panache.”
American Record Guide

“Within measures, Kreger established his ‘voice’ — and what a commanding sound it was! For the slow, romantic utterance, his playing is unsurpassed.” Musical America

“a welcome breadth of tone, an eloquence born of total conviction” The (London) Daily Telegraph

“Kreger’s performances are outstanding. His burnished tone is rich and mellow, his dynamics subtly nuanced and at times daringly hushed. His bowing is seamless, his intonation irreproachable. Kreger’s rhapsodic interpretation of the Dvořák Concerto is poignant and touching, while Silent Woods has a rapt inwardness that is mesmerizing.” The Juilliard Journal